Exercising device



July 5, 1932. F L, GNLEY 1,866,024

` EXERCI SING DEVICE Filed June 24. 1930 Patented duly 5, 1932' FLOR-ENCE L. YGrAIII'JEY, OF'y LOS AN'GELIES,v CALIFORNIA EXERCISING DEVICE Application sled :rune 24,

Myinvention relates to an ,exercising device and the principalV objectsV of my invenl tion are, to provide a relatively simple, practical and inexpensive device that may be conveniently used for simulating the movements of a person rowing a boat, therebyexercising practically all muscles in the arms, legs and torso."4 A further object ofmy invention is, toprovidevan exercising device that is relatively simple in construction and which'is not asso Y ciat'ed with any extraneous support or-`fastening means. u

A further object of `my invention is, to 15. provide an exercisingldevice that isV capable of ready adjustment so as to be vconveniently used by persons of different heights and different degrees of muscular development.:y

With the foregoing and other objects in- .20 view,my invention consists in certain novely features ofv construction and arrangement' ofy parts that will hereinafter be more fullyde-` scribed and claimedl and4 illustrated in the accompanying drawing,` in which:

' Fig. 1 isv a top plan view o-f anpexercising device constructed in accordance with my invention. Y y 'K y Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the device. Y Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the vstrap or band that is engaged by the-head of the user.

Fig. 4 isfa longitudinal section taken onthe'.

. H line 4 4: of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is av front elevational view of the foot engaging band. f

Fig. 6 is an elevational view partlyl insection and showing a readily detachable link Y connection between one of the springs and.

the foot engaging band. y y

Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing a modified form of the foot engaging band.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing which illustrates apractical embodiment of my invention, '10 designates a strap lpreferably formed of leather, which may be three or fourinclies in width and approximately eighteen or twenty inches` in length and secured to the front facek of this strap in any suitable manner, preferably by rowing a boat.

1930. seriai No. 463,455; Y

rows'of stitching 11, is a pad 12 of'felt yorV i other 'relatively soft flexible material. The centralportion kof the pad 12 is extended out`V wardly away `from the straplO, in order to form a. rib 13 that acts asa dividing'wall or partition between the feet of the user when i placed against theouter face ofthe pad. In some instances the pad of felt or the like may be secured to the leather strap by a suit# able adhesive thus doing away with the ne# cessity for stitching ythe pad tov the strap. i

Arranged on" the face of strap 10, on the i opposite Vside from the `pad 12 are `one `or more -longitudinally'disposed straps or bands y 14, of thinzresilient metal, preferably steel,

and which "function as a resilient reenforce- V ment for the foot engagingmember of the ex-Y ercisin g device. rIhese bands may be secured 'to the strap4 10 in any suitable manner, pre'fy erably by'means of rivetsl and the ends of the bands extend slightly beyond the endsV V of the'strap 10 and such extending ends are formed into loops 16 thatengage metal rings 17., j y y -Detachablyf secured to the rings 17V are links 18, each linkbeing 'openon'one side and the'openin'g rbeing normally closed. by a sliding spring'held tubular member y19'and engaging the opposite ends of these links 18 are` the coiled Ven d portions 2 0 of closelywound4 retractile springs 21. The opposite ends of these springs are provided with coil rings 22,

to which are connectedreadily releasablelinks 23, that are identical'in constructionV with the links 18 and said linksV 23 being also con nected to the bail portionsQa. of' handles 25.

n the, use of my improved exercising `device, the user, lying on a bed, couch oron thev fioor,'places the'feet against the pad 12', 'adjacent to the rib 13 and with the hands grasp-4 ing the handles 25,v the feet andV 'limbs are pushed forwardly andat'the Sametime the user swings the body rearwardlyan'd aty the, same :time pulls4 the handles away Lfrom the Vtoot engaging member andwhich action s'omegH what simulates the movements offa person.

The movements of the foot engaging niemberand the handles away from each other'is yieldinglyresisted lby the springs 21 and as lite vthe movements just` described are repeated,

. as a result of mild exercise.

TheV retractile springs forming a part of the device may vary in length and in tension so as to correspond vto the varying height and strength of the different users and' in order to increase the adjustability of the device for the accommodation of persons of Amember comprising a strap, a pad on one different heights, two 'or more of the readily detachably links may be used between the ends of the springs and thel foot strap or handles.

. In order to provide a. firm supportforthe seat While thewdevice is inuse, a relatively stiff member 26 of wood, metal or the like,

is inserted `between the central portion ofV the pad l2 andthe strap l0 and which member projects in both directions outwardlyV from the central rib 13. Thus a firm broad bearing for the feet is provided andthe end portions of thepad will not exert inward pressure against the sides of the feet while the sameare positioned on that portion of the pad that is reenforcedY or backed by the relatively stifl" member 26.

Where the foot supporting member is pro: vided with the Yrelatively stiff member, as illustrated in" Fig. 7 it is possibley toY place the feet on the padded portion of the device in three or four different positions so that the heels, arch or instep portions and theballs or toe portions of the feetfmay be effectively exercised. v` Y In practice my improved device has been found very effective in the exerciseand manipulation of the feet for tlie helpful treat- 'ment of fallen arches and other irregular metatarsal conditions. ,Y t

While I have shown the exercising device as being provided with twopsprings V2l on each Side it will be understood that one or more springs ymay be utilized and in some instancesv it may be found desirable to useA elasticv bands instead of springs.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided an exercising device that is relative'lysimple inconstruction, inexpensive of manufacture and very effective in performing the functions for which it is intended.

The device is capable of ready adjustment to suit the height Aand strength of dierent users and the use of the device supporting or anchoring means.

It will Vbe understood that minor'changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved exercising device may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scopeV of whichfis set forth iii-the appended claims.

'I claim as my invention: l. An exercising device, comprising a flexrequires no member having a relatively stiff central por.

ible foot engaging member, a strip of padding secured on one face of said foot engaging member and extending from one end thereof to the other, the central portion of said strip of padding being folded doiibleand extended outwardly from the foot engaging member to provide a dividingwall, retractile springs connected to the ends of said foot engaging member and handles connected to said springs.

2. In an exercising device, a foot engaging face of said strap, the central portion of said pad being folded double and projecting outwardly from the face of said strap to provide a dividing wall, a reenforcing member of resilient material secured to said strapon the opposite face from said pad, retractile springs detachably connected to the ends of said'foot engaging member and handles de# tachably connected to said springs.

3. In an exercising device, a foot engagingl lthe front face of said strap, the central p0rtion of which pad is folded double to form an outwardly projecting transverse rib and a reenfforcing strip of resilient metal secured tohe-faceof the strap opposite from said pac.

silientmetal, retractile springs detachably connectedto theV ends Yof said strip, handles .detachably connected to said springs, a pad secured tosaid strip of resilient material and the central portion offwhich pad is folded double toforni an outwardly projecting transversely disposed rib. n

6. In an exercising device, a strip of resilient metal,l retractile springs -detacliably connected to the "ends ofsaid strip, handles detacliably connected to saidsprings, a pad secured to said strip of resilient material and aftransverse rib formed'from the material composingsaid pad at the center thereof.

7. In an exercising device, a foot engaging tion and flexible end portions, a pad on the front face of said foot engaging member, the central portion of which pad is folded double toY provide an outwardly Aprojecting transversely disposed rib, retractile springs con-V `nectedto the ends of said member and handles connected tosaid springs.

8. In an exercising device, a strap, a pad secured to one face of said strap, the central .5. In an exercising device, a strip of reportion of Whiohpad is folded double to provide an outwardly projecting transversely v disposed rib, a relatively sti reenforcing member arranged between thepcentral portions of said pad and strap, retractile springs connected to the ends of Said strap and handles connected to said springs.

In testimonvwhereof I affx my signature.

FLORENCE L. GrAllLEYV.YA v 

